Illuminated sign



y 27, 1941, H. c. HAMMER 2,243,816

ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed June 3, 1940 fiVVEA/TU]? firm/v L HAMMER OQAGJM,

Patented May 27, 1941 ILLUMINATE'D SIGN Hyman Hammer, Chicago, 111., assignor to Price Brothers, Inc., Chicago, 111.

Application June. 3, 1940, Serial N 0. 338,450

3 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in. signs and more particularly to an illuminated sign embodying inexpensive means to eifect the highly attractive and unique appearance resulting from the use of luminescent tubes.

An object of the invention is to provide a display sign of the character referred to, including a hollow base having a source of illumination therein. arranged to illuminate an associated compartment having translucent members associated therewith for direct and indirect illumination: by said source.

Another object is to provide an illuminated sign including novel means to sustain translucent members in close association with, but spaced from, a source of illumination concealed within said sign, with the result that when said sign is illuminated, said members will present the eilect of: luminescent tubes.

Another object is to provide a sign structure of the character described which 'will be simple to manufacture and assemble and inexpensive to maintain in operation, which may be constructed along lines convenient for' low cost production and which will, at the same time, be highly efficient for carrying out the purpose for which it is designed.

The foregoing and such other objects of the invention as will appear hereinafter as the description proceeds, will be more readily understood from a perusal of the following specification, in which reference is made to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a sign embodying the invention, showing partsbroken away to illustrate its interior construction.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one end of the sign, showing related parts successively broken away to illustrate the interior construction thereof.

Referring to the drawing, the improved sign includes. a hollow base partially defined by a casing II having a front wall l2, end walls I3 and a top wall M. The casin which may be formed of any suitable material, such as cast metal or the like, has an opening in its bottom which terminates short of the casing ends and normally is closed by a .detachably secured bottom plate I5. As best illustrated in Fig. 2, the forward edge It of said plate is oiiset upwardly to engage over the top of an inwardly extending flange I! on the lower edge of the front wall I2 whereby the forward edge of the. plate is retained in position; Screws l8 secure the rear:

edge of the plate to the bottom of said casing. s the embodiment illustrated is to be used as a counter sign, the casing ll may be provided with a plurality of yieldable feet I9 so as to avoid marring any surface upon which the sign may be placed.

Termination of the bottom opening short of the'casing ends provides bottom wall portions 2| which extend inwardly a short distance from each end wall IS. The bottom wall portions 2! each provide a mounting for a suitable bracket 22 arranged to carry a conventional lamp socket 23 having conducting cords 24 leading toa source of electric current. The sockets 23 are adapted to receive suitable light bulbs 25 for producing the desired illumination.

An elongated opening 25, provided in the front wall l2 of the casing l i receives an opaque panel 2! bearing translucent indicia 28. Obviously the panel 21 maybe of glass having its entire area, with the exception of the indicia 28 rendered opaque preferably by applying a coating of paint or the" like to its rear surface. The indicia 28 maybe left clear but itpreferably is coated with suitable translucent paint of a color which will contrast with the color of the opaque portion. Consequently, when the lamps 25 are illuminated, the indioia 23 also are illuminated while the remaining portion of the panel does not permit the transmission of light.

A back 29' preferably consisting of a hollow member formed of any suitable material such as sheet metal or the like, is arranged over the open rear sideof the casing H to define therewith a lower compartment containing the lamps 25. The back 29 has itsinsid-e surface coated with a suitable paint or the like to give it a'relatively dull. finish and it extends upwardly from the casing II and. is inclined slightly forwardly toward its free edges. The open forward side of said member, extending above the casing H, has

a suitable panel 3| of any-transparent sheet ma terial such as for example, clear Celluloid, mounted therein. The panel 31 is disposed substantially in vertical alignment with the lamps 25and its lower edge is spaced rearwardly from the rear edge of the casing top wall I4, thereby leaving a space 32 between said top wall and panel to permit the passage of light rays laterally. through and on both sides of said panel.

One or more strips'33 of translucent light diffusingmaterial, such as Celluloid, glass or any suitable translucent plastic, are arranged along the twovertioal.:margins and the top marginof the panel 3| and preferably are secured thereto by screws 35. In the disclosure, a single strip 33 is illustrated, said strip being formed substantially in the shape of an inverted U to conform to the outline of the open forward side of the member 29. The strip 33 is shouldered on its outwardly disposed edges to form a seat to receive the free top and end edges of the back 29 when the panel assembly is mounted in place. The overhanging lip formed on said strip by the shoulder conceals the free edges of the back member from view. Although the panel with its mounted border strip 33 may be secured to the back wall in any practical manner, it is preferable that it be anchored by means of spaced screws 36, best shown in Fig. 2.

The panel 3! is provided with desired indicia such as reading matter and the like for advertising purposes. As shown, suitable indicia 31 are arranged on said panel. These members preferably are formed of the same material as the strip 33 and are secured to the front face of the panel 31 by screws or the like 38, or they may be cemented thereto by a translucent adhesive.

Upon referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the indicia 31 and the marginal strip 33 are of substantially the same thickness and are disposed in vertical alignment with the light opening 3| between the panel and the casing top. Accordingly, illumination from the lamps 25 is directed to the edges of said translucent members and consequently produces an edge-glow incandescent effect when said members are illuminated.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that when the lamps 25 are connected to a current source, they will illuminate the interior of the base as well as the interior of the upper compartment defined by the extended back and panel with the result that illumination is reflected from the interior surface of the back to increase the panel illumination. It will be noted that objects of this invention are accomplished with a very simple structure containing only a minimum number of parts and a concealed source of illumination. It is to be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to the specific shape or size of the sign structure illustrated, as the desired effects will be produced by a sign of any size or shape having a compartment to conceal the source of illumination, which compartment is in communication with a second compartment defined in part by a transparent wall having translucent members thereon arranged to be illuminated by the passage of light from the first compartment into the second compartment. The forward wallor transparent panel 3| of the second compartment, when illuminated, is for all practical purposes invisible, due to its clearness and the reflection of the painted interior of the back, While the translucent marginal strip and indicia ar highly illuminated by reflected and direct illumination to produce the effect of luminescent tubes suspended in mid air.

I claim:

l. A sign of the character described comprising, in combination, a casing having a top, front and end walls, bottom wall portions extending inwardly from each end wall, a source of illumination mounted in said casing on each bottom wall portion, a detachably secured bottom wall for said casing extending between'said bottom wall portions, a back wall secured to said casing and arranged to form therewith a lower compartment, said back wall being spaced from the rear edge of the casing top wall and extending of illumination whereby light rays from said source enter the upper compartment and also pass laterally through and in front of said panel, a border of translucent light diffusing colored material on the outside face of the top and end margins of'said panel, and indicia of translucent light diifusing colored material on the outside face of said panel, said border and indicia being illuminated by direct light rays passing along the front face of said panel and entering their edges and indirectly by light rays deflected forwardly by the inclined back wall of said upper compartment.

2. A sign of the character described comprising, in combination, a casing having a top, front and end walls, bottom wall portions extending inwardly from each end wall, a source of illumination mounted in said casing on each bottom wall portion, a back wall secured to said casing and arranged to form therewith a lower compartment, said back wall being spaced from the rear edge of the casing top wall and extending above said casing, the portion of said back wall above said casing being inclined forwardly, a transparent panel located in the open forward side of said back wall arranged to form with said back wall an upper compartment in communication with the lower compartment, said panel being disposed in a vertical plane spaced rearwardly from the rear edge of the casing top wall and in substantial vertical alignment with the source of illumination whereby light rays from said source enter the upper compartment and also pass laterally through and in front of said panel, a border of translucent light diffusing colored material on the outside face of the top and end margins of said panel, and indicia of translucent light diffusing colored material on the outside face of said panel, said border and indicia being illuminated by direct light rays passing along the front face of said panel and entering their edges and indirectly by light rays deflected forwardly by the inclined back wall of said upper compartment.

3. A sign of the character described comprising, in combination, a casing having a top; front and end walls, bottom wall portions extending inwardly from each end wall, a source of illumination mounted in said casing on each bottom wall portion, a back wall secured to said casing and arranged to form therewith a lower compartment, said back wall being spaced from the rear edge of the casing top wall and extending above said casing, the portion of said back wall above said casing being inclined forwardly and having an inside light diffusing surface, a transparent panel located in the open forward side of said back wall arranged to form with said back wall an upper compartment in communication with the lower compartment-said panel being disposed in a vertical plane spaced rearwardly fromthe rear edge of the casing top wall and in substantial vertical alignment with the source of panel, said border and indicia being illuminated by direct light rays passing along the front face of said panel and entering their edges and indirectly by light rays deflected forwardly by the 5 inclined back wall of said upper compartment.

HYMAN C. HAMMER. 

